Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

The first time I read this I must admit I was very perplexed. God hold’s my thoughts against me? I haven’t done anything. Is my thinking sin? Man am I ever in trouble!

Then I read it again, and again, just to be sure. You looked. Looking on a woman with lust in your heart is voyeurism. This verse went beyond thought, it took the next step towards real damage. This is lust of the eye.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Let me ask you this however, what preceded looking with lust in your heart? Thoughts. Yes, thoughts precede action. Now for the more pointed question? Where did the lust come from that led to thoughts of the woman?

Yes. It came from our human nature. Lust is prone to act if it has already been exercised. We do not teach chastity nearly enough to our young men. Even when we do we have a tendency to emphasize respect for women over respect for self. In truth the curiosity of lust is nowhere near as dangerous as the memory of lust. The enemy will use those moments of lost virginity to entice young men to repeat the sin. In that lays the surmounting danger.

Titus 2:6-7 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Matthew 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Yesterday I gave you an exercise in will. You were to take a gallon of water and hold it out from your body and hold the thought God is good at the same time. Which did you drop first? It was not a fair test but rather example of how easily we are influenced. The fact that you considered the question took your mind off God is good.

That is not a fair judge of our love and commitment to our Lord. Neither was the opening verse. We are frail human beings. The purpose for the inclusion of their falling asleep was not to embarrass or chastise them or us, but to demonstrate our frailty. So often we rely on our own will and strength, leaving out the Holy Spirit altogether. Then when we fail, we condemn ourselves.

Jesus Christ did not intend for us to feel this way, but He knew we would. That is why He sent the Holy Spirit, not only to instruct us, but to hold us up because we are frail and not up to any task in our own strength.

Psalm 21:13 Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

NOT

Amos 6:13 Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?

Yes, God has called us to act, but not alone, not in our own strength.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.